Microbiome News and Research

Latest Microbiome News and Research

Scientists discover a completely new antibiotic resistance gene

Aminoglycoside antibiotics are critically important for treating several types of infections with multi-resistant bacteria.

27 Mar 2020

Microbiome could help identify pre-cancer risk in women with HPV

A new study published in the open-access journal PLOS Pathogens in March 2020 reports the possible use of the bacteria Gardnerella found in the cervix and vagina of women with Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, as a marker of precancerous change. The findings could help to find new methods of treatment that involve inducing changes in the microbiome to arrest the course of the disease.

26 Mar 2020

Diet, nutrition have profound impact on microbial composition in the gut

Nutrition and diet have a profound impact on microbial composition in the gut, in turn affecting a range of metabolic, hormonal, and neurological processes, according to a literature review by scientists from the George Washington University and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

25 Mar 2020

Presence of certain gut bacterium in mothers could protect babies from food allergies

Researchers have found that bacteria in a mother’s gut during pregnancy can protect the baby from developing food allergies.

25 Mar 2020

Detailed map of human tongue microbiome

A new study published in the journal Cell Reports in March 2020 reports the use of advanced and rapid spectral imaging techniques to develop a detailed map of microbial communities on the human tongue. The research will help to understand how such communities grow and form organized patterns.

24 Mar 2020

Commonly used mouthwash increases lactate-producing bacteria that lower saliva pH

The first study looking at the effect of chlorhexidine mouthwash on the entire oral microbiome has found its use significantly increases the abundance of lactate-producing bacteria that lower saliva pH, and may increase the risk of tooth damage.

24 Mar 2020

Microbiome search-based method can improve efficiency in disease detection and diagnosis

Big data makes big promises when it comes to providing insights into human behavior and health. The problem is how to harness the information it provides in an efficient manner.

23 Mar 2020

Bacterial extracellular vesicles could combat antibiotic resistance

Children's National Hospital researchers for the first time have isolated bacterial extracellular vesicles from the blood of healthy donors, a critical step to better understanding the way gut bacteria communicate with the rest of the body via the bloodstream.

18 Mar 2020

Fecal Microbiota Transplants highly successful in treating patients with C.diff infection

A new study from the University of Birmingham has shown that Fecal Microbiota Transplants (FMT) are highly successful in treating patients with Clostridioides difficile (C.diff) infection.

13 Mar 2020

Gut microbiota generate bursts of diversity at unprecedented amounts

Scientists lead by Isabel Gordo, catch in real time the emergence of bursts of diversity in the microbiota, caused by bacterial cells with mutation rates similar to those of cancer.

12 Mar 2020

Air pollution exposure takes a heavy toll on gut bacteria, boosting risk of chronic illnesses

Breathing dirty air takes a heavy toll on gut bacteria, boosting risk of obesity, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders and other chronic illnesses, new University of Colorado Boulder research suggests.

11 Mar 2020

Blood test for microbial DNA could warn of cancer

A new study published in the journal Nature on March 11, 2020, could transform the currently held views on cancer causation and diagnosis. The researchers have come up with a new technique to detect the presence and type of cancer by looking at microbial DNA circulating in the blood of the person being screened.

11 Mar 2020

Microbial DNA in the blood could help identify who has cancer

When Gregory Poore was a freshman in college, his otherwise healthy grandmother was shocked to learn that she had late-stage pancreatic cancer. The condition was diagnosed in late December. She died in January.

11 Mar 2020

Diet influences multiple sclerosis disease course

The short-chain fatty acid propionic acid influences the intestine-mediated immune regulation in people with multiple sclerosis (MS).

11 Mar 2020

Baylor College of Medicine and UH team up for new research collaborations

Baylor College of Medicine and the University of Houston are teaming up for new research collaborations.

10 Mar 2020

CRISPR-Cas system can be used to effectively target colitis pathogen

Research at North Carolina State University shows that the CRISPR-Cas system can be used to effectively target and eliminate specific gut bacteria, in this case Clostridioides difficile, the pathogen that causes colitis - a chronic, degenerative disease of the colon.

10 Mar 2020